Best Tank Killer of WW2 continued

[Dac]

I am not saying that they were not effective at all, but I think they were more effective than people think. I think it depends on the type of Rockets. I know the R4Ms used against Bomber Formations but I think they would have been quite effective as well especially in the way that you are talking about Dac.

The 3" rocket wasn't as effective later in the war but the 5" would take out a tank from the rear or side depending on the model. Panthers were vulnerable to this. I guess if the Luftwaffe had more aircraft availble for ground attack later in the war there would have been more use of rockets.

They still did pretty good with the underpowered aircraft they had. Somebody like Hans Rudel had to be very brave to fly day after day in an aircraft that many thought was obsolete.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Underpowered aircraft?

By 1943 they were useing Fw-190s for tank busting rolls and I call a Fw-190 hardly "underpowered".

 

[Dac]

When compared to the allied tactical forces the Luftwaffe's use of fighter-bombers was limited. They didn't have the fuel, planes or the pilots to spare for the effort that was required. So much of the Luftwaffe was occupied just defending the Reich. The Fw-190f was a good fighter-bomber, and was effective against tanks with it's 30mm cannon but their numbers were dwarfed by the thousands of Sturmoviks, Typhoons, Thunderbolts etc...in operation with the Allies.

I was was talking about the Hs-129 and Ju-87G, when I said underpowered.

 

[Erich]

the Fw 190F was armed with only two 2cm weapons not 3cm. there were numerous F's in production primarily serving on the Ost front where they attack hordes of Soviet tanks at will, this was the prime reason why the Ju 87D's were removed and transfered out to the night groiund attack gruppen and then the Fw 190 came into play with panzerblitz rockets. Again as i have mentioned over the last 2 years there really needs to be a book written specifically on the German ground attack units operating late war 44-45 Fw's as we would find that they indeed destroyed numerous Soviet panzers with rockets more so than any Allied ground attack a/c during the war.

 

[lesofprimus]

there really needs to be a book written specifically on the German ground attack units operating late war 44-45 Fw's as we would find that they indeed destroyed numerous Soviet panzers with rockets more so than any Allied ground attack a/c during the war.

I agree 100% erich, and the many eyewitness accounts and a few interviews I've had on the subject substantiate this....

It would be a book I would definatly purchase, and speaking of which, when is the JG300 Vol 2 English comin out????

 

[102first_hussars]

The best tank killer I can think of is A BIG AS**D EXPLOSION!!!!!!

 

[Erich]

Les no doubt around September as the Dora volumes at least the 1st one is due for July or so they stated. right now to me it is doubtful much will happen for EE till the fall, with too many projects in the works

 

[Dac]

the Fw 190F was armed with only two 2cm weapons not 3cm. there were numerous F's in production primarily serving on the Ost front where they attack hordes of Soviet tanks at will, this was the prime reason why the Ju 87D's were removed and transfered out to the night groiund attack gruppen and then the Fw 190 came into play with panzerblitz rockets. Again as i have mentioned over the last 2 years there really needs to be a book written specifically on the German ground attack units operating late war 44-45 Fw's as we would find that they indeed destroyed numerous Soviet panzers with rockets more so than any Allied ground attack a/c during the war.

Like with the Bf 109F and it's 20mm underwing cannons, the Fw 190F could be fitted with two 30mm cannon in gondolas.

I'd buy a book on the Fw190 tank busting in the east in 1944-45.

 

[Erich]

no they did not have underwing gondolas or the silly Mk 103 on the prototype that never flew in action if this is what you refer to. There were no underwing cannons fitted to Schlachtgeschwader Fw 190F's or G's only bombs, bomblets and rockets

 

[lesofprimus]

Erich is correct Dac, the Fw-190F/G was never fitted with underwing gondolas...

 

[Dac]

I guess the reference books I'm going by are wrong, a couple claim the Fw 190F sometimes used 2 MK 108 cannon.

 

[dinos7]

i believe i would say the ju-87 stuka would be the best, just my opinion

 

[lesofprimus]

a couple claim the Fw 190F sometimes used 2 MK 108 cannon.

Heres a pic of an Fw-190 with 108 gondolas, but it is an A-8/R3......

 

[Erich]

Les the prototype you present has Mk 103's in response to tests with a couple of these in regard to the success with the same single weapon system on the Hs 129. For the Fw 190 it just did not work, due to strengthing problems in the wings when the long barrels were fired and vibration characteristics were too extremem to even aim properly as the rounds were placed in such a wide area during target practice

 

[Dac]

I like the Hurricane IID, according to this Tony Williams article the No. 6 Squadron in "Flying Can Openers" destroyed 47 tanks and 200 other vehicles in North Africa.

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~autogun/sgun.htm

 

[red26]

I think the P-47 was the best tank killer in the war It's 8, 50cal's could beat up any thing. And pluse it culod also carry ord. on it and it was fast across the deck making it hard to hit. It also had the best reputation of bringing the pilot home.

Sorry if the spelling is off a bit

 

[lesofprimus]

U arent really implying that .50 calibre bullets could destroy a tank are u??? Even a French tank could withstand 5,000 impacts from a .50 cal....

 

[Dac]

Some people I've encountered claim it was possible to destroy tanks by bouncing .50 cal rounds off the ground into the belly armor of a tank, but that doesn't sound too likely to me.

 

[Erich]

another myth ...........

the .50 ammo was excellent for the ground attack work of the JUG and STANG but don't anyone claim it could do away with German armor

 

[lesofprimus]

There are reports that state that some German tanks were destroyed by skipping 20mm rounds under them, but not the .50 cal...